Admission Procedures Admission Eligibility Admission Requirements Appeal of Graduate Admission

Transfer Residency Requirement Academic Policies Degree Requirements

The Master of Music (MM) program at the University of North Georgia (UNG) is designed to prepare students for music careers in both the private and public sectors. Graduates of the program will be equipped with advanced musical training, thus enabling them to apply comprehensive musicianship in a variety of settings. The MM program is a 33-semester-hour graduate program, with a specialization in performance.  

For additional program information, contact the Master of Music Program, Department of Performing Arts, 706-864-1423, or write to Master of Music Program, Department of Performing Arts, John L. Nix Mountain Cultural Center, University of North Georgia, Dahlonega, GA 30597-1001.  

Graduate Studies’ Admission Procedures

^TOP

Application materials may be obtained from Graduate Studies or from the UNG Graduate Studies’ website www.ung.edu/graduate/MM. Applicants must pay a one-time, non-refundable application fee. Admission requirements are listed below. When all application materials have been received by Graduate Studies, notification will be sent to the applicant and a copy of all materials will be forwarded to the program.  Upon review, a letter from the MM program will be sent to the applicant verifying acceptance or denial.  

Applicants who are currently in the last semester of undergraduate work will be evaluated based on their completed academic work and their current course enrollment. Formal admissions decisions for these students cannot be made until the baccalaureate is conferred. 

Students who are admitted, but do not enroll with the cohort must reapply through Graduate Studies. Students who were previously enrolled but have not been in attendance within the last three semesters must also reapply. All documents and materials submitted to fulfill the application requirements for entry to a program at UNG become the property of the university and will not be returned. These materials are kept for one year for incomplete application files; three years for completed and accepted, but not enrolled.

MM Admission Eligibility

^TOP

1. Baccalaureate in music or music education from a regionally accredited institution of higher education.
2. Satisfactory audition.

Auditions and transcripts of applicants will be evaluated on a course-by-course basis. Applicants who are deficient in one or more foundation content areas will be considered for admission to the program with Foundations. The Foundations program provides a method for students to remedy assessed areas of weakness prior to starting the MM program. 

Evaluation of Credit/Audition for Meeting Foundation Requirements

The MM Admissions Committee will evaluate student auditions and previous academic credit for meeting the foundation requirements listed below. Diagnostic exams also may be used to tailor curriculum requirements for admitted students. The following areas may be assessed:

• Music Theory
• Music History
• Aural Skills

Foundation requirements may be completed through a combination of undergraduate courses taught by UNG or another regionally accredited school or by successfully passing exams on the topic. Students completing foundation requirements through courses at other universities should seek guidance from the program coordinator regarding the appropriateness of the selected courses. 

NOTE: The admission letter for students admitted to the Master of Music Program with Foundations will indicate foundation topics that must be satisfied prior to starting the program. The program coordinator will meet with each student individually to address options for completing foundation requirements. 

Students enrolled in undergraduate foundation coursework necessary for enrollment in the MM program may be eligible for financial aid for any semester in which they are enrolled in at least six hours of required prerequisite courses. Students meeting these criteria are eligible for loans for one consecutive twelve-month period.

MM Admission Requirements

^TOP

1. Graduate Studies Application.
2. Non-refundable application fee.
3. Official transcripts from all regionally accredited institutions of higher education previously attended documenting completion of a baccalaureate in music or music education. Official international transcripts must have a foreign course-by-course credential evaluation by an independent evaluation service that is a member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services, Inc. (NACES). Evaluations must include certification that the applicant has received a baccalaureate from a regionally accredited institution and state a cumulative calculated grade point average.
4. Three UNG recommendation forms.
5. Performance audition: Students will be required to perform two pieces in contrasting styles. The pieces will be evaluated based on NASM standards and should reflect the performance level expected of students performing an undergraduate senior recital.
6. If applying for in-state tuition, proof of lawful presence in the United States.

In accordance with Board of Regents’ policy, the following documents must be received two weeks prior to the first day of the term:

1. UNG Immunization Certificate. Former North Georgia and Gainesville State students are required to submit documentation for any new immunization requirements since last attended. 

Types of Admission

There are three types of admission to the MM program:

• Regular MM Admission.
• Provisional MM Admission.
• Regular MM with Foundations Admission.

Applicants’ grade point averages, recommendations, and audition are used to select applicants for admission to the MM program. 

	Application to MM Program with Foundations	Application to MM Program
Regular	Students with identified content area weaknesses who supply all necessary application materials and who meet admissions requirements.	Student with no identified content area weaknesses who supply all necessary application materials and who meet admission requirements.
Provisional	No provisional status for MM program with Foundations is available.	Students who have the potential to be successful in the MM program, but do not meet admission requirements.

Provisional Admission

Students admitted provisionally may register for no more than a total of six-nine hours of graduate credit. Provisionally admitted students should schedule an appointment with the program coordinator for individual advisement. Student status will be reviewed to determine eligibility for regular admission following the first term of enrollment or following the completion of six hours, whichever is first. Provisionally admitted students who earn a grade less than a B in any MM course taken during the provisional period will not be allowed to continue in the MM program. Students who have been removed because of a deficient grade may petition by letter to the Dean of the College of Arts and Letters for readmission as a provisional student. Provisionally admitted students are not eligible for financial aid.  

Non-Degree Admission

Individuals interested in taking graduate courses in music, but who do not want to pursue a graduate degree, may apply for admission as a non-degree graduate student. Individuals must receive pre-approval from the program coordinator before enrolling in courses and may register for no more than a total of six hours of graduate credit. 

The following documents must be received prior to admission:

1. Graduate Studies Application.
2. Non-refundable application fee.
3. Official transcripts from all regionally accredited institutions of higher education previously attended documenting completion of a baccalaureate in music or music education. Official international transcripts must have a foreign course-by-course credential evaluation done by an independent evaluation service that is a member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services, Inc. (NACES). Evaluations must include certification that the applicant has received a baccalaureate from a regionally accredited institution and state a calculated cumulative grade point average.
4. Performance audition.
5. If applying for in-state tuition, proof of lawful presence in the United States.

In accordance with Board of Regents’ policy, the following documents must be received two weeks prior to the first day of the term:

1. UNG Immunization Certificate. Former North Georgia and Gainesville State students are required to submit documentation for any new immunization requirements since last attended.

Non-degree students wishing to apply for admission to the MM program must notify the program coordinator, submit a new application to Graduate Studies, and meet all program admission requirements. All elective credit to be applied toward a degree must be approved by the program coordinator. Non-degree admitted students who earn a grade less than a C in any graduate course taken while holding a non-degree status will not be allowed to continue. Students who have been removed because of a deficient grade may not reapply for admission. Non-degree admitted students are not eligible for financial aid. 

Transient Student Admission

An individual currently enrolled at a regionally accredited college or university as a graduate student in good standing may apply to UNG as a transient student. Permission to take courses does not indicate or imply subsequent admission into the MM program. Transient credit is capped at six credits for one semester. Individuals must receive pre-approval from the program coordinator before enrolling in courses. Requests will be considered on a space-available basis.  

The following documents must be received prior to admission:

1. Graduate Studies Application.
2. Non-refundable application fee.
3. Letter of good standing or Transient Permission Form documenting that the student is in good standing and should indicate the course(s) the student is being allowed to take at UNG.
4. If applying for in-state tuition, proof of lawful presence in the United States.

In accordance with Board of Regents’ policy, the following documents must be received two weeks prior to the first day of the term:

1. UNG Immunization Certificate. Former North Georgia and Gainesville State students are required to submit documentation for any new immunization requirements since last attended

Transient admission is for one semester term only. Individuals who wish to return to UNG as a transient student for a subsequent term must re-apply to UNG.

Appeal of Graduate Admission

^TOP

A candidate whose application is denied has the right to appeal the decision. Appeals must be made in written form to the Master of Music, Department of Performing Arts, John L. Nix Mountain Cultural Center, University of North Georgia, Dahlonega, GA 30597-1001. The letter should clearly state the grounds for appeal. Students whose appeals are accepted will be admitted provisionally and are not eligible for financial aid. Students may not appeal for regular admission.

Transfer Residency Requirement

^TOP

To be awarded a Master of Music degree, students must earn a minimum of 24 hours of credit applicable to the degree in residence. In addition, no more than nine hours of transfer credit may be applied towards meeting UNG’s Master of Music degree requirements. All course requirements including transfer credits must be completed within a six-year period. The program coordinator and the Dean of the College of Arts and Letters must approve all transfer credit. Transfer credit will not be given for any course in which a grade of less than a B was earned.

MM Academic Policies

^TOP

Satisfactory Progress

MM students progress through the program of study as long as a minimum of a B is earned in each graduate course. Students who earn a grade of C (or below) in a course must repeat the course with a grade of B or greater before advancing in the program. 

Grades of Incomplete are only allowed for non-academic reasons and will be addressed on a case-by-case basis. No degree will be conferred on a student who has an unresolved incomplete or in-progress grade remaining on his/her transcript. 

Academic Standing Policy

MM students whose academic performance is unsatisfactory will be subject to the following:

1. Probation – A student will be placed on probation for any of the following reasons:
   a. Student’s cumulative grade point average falls below 3.0.
   b. Student earns a U or any other grade below B.
   
   No student may be a candidate for the degree or complete capstone requirements while on probation due to a grade point average below a 3.0. Probation will be removed when the student’s grade point average reaches 3.0 or higher. In cases where the student is placed on probation due to a low grade, probation will be removed when the course is repeated and the grade is S or B or greater, and the overall grade point average is 3.0 or greater. Students who are on probation may not register until advised.
    
2. Suspension – A student will be placed on suspension for any of the following reasons:
   a. Student earns two grades below B (including U’s).
   b. Student has already served three consecutive terms on academic probation.
   
   No student may enroll in graduate courses at UNG while on suspension. Courses taken at another institution during the period of suspension will not be recognized for transfer credit. If suspended, a student must apply to Graduate Studies for readmission. After serving a suspension period of two semesters (including the summer term), a student seeking to reapply who has been suspended must submit a new Graduate Studies application and a letter written to the Dean of the College of Arts and Letters presenting a rationale for readmission. The student may petition for readmission as a probationary student. The student will be readmitted only upon approval of the Dean and the program coordinator.

Academic and Professional Integrity Policy

At any point in the program, the program faculty or program coordinator may intervene to establish a plan of action for any student in the program whose competency is in question for reasons including unprofessional, disruptive, or unethical behavior in the classroom or applied setting. The plan should be signed by the student and the program coordinator with copies forwarded to the Dean of the College of Arts and Letters. 

Academic Integrity

The University of North Georgia recognizes honesty and integrity as being necessary to the academic functioning of the university. UNG graduate students are expected to uphold the university regulations addressed in the Student Code of Conduct, Article 3, Rule 2.

Professional Integrity

The Master of Music program adheres to the university’s definition of professional integrity as described in the Academics section of the Graduate Catalog.

MM Degree Requirements

^TOP

Graduation requirements for the Master of Music include:

1. Completion of 33 designated semester hours of study with a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or higher with no grade of less than a B.
2. Completion of at least 24 semester hours of graduate degree requirements in residence with no more than 12 semester hours of transfer credit.
3. Completion of all degree-related course requirements, including any transfer credits, within a six-year period.